[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 449 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]


        H.Con.Res.449
                                            Agreed to September 11, 2006

                       One Hundred Ninth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
             the third day of January, two thousand and six


                          Concurrent Resolution

Whereas Robert William Andrew Feller was born on November 3, 1918, near 
  Van Meter, Iowa, and resides in Gates Mills, Ohio;

Whereas Bob Feller enlisted in the Navy 2 days after the attack on 
  Pearl Harbor in 1941;

Whereas, at the time of his enlistment, Bob Feller was at the peak of 
  his baseball career, as he had been signed to the Cleveland Indians 
  at the age of 16, had struck out 15 batters in his first Major League 
  Baseball start in August 1936, and established a Major League record 
  by striking out 18 Detroit Tigers in a single, 9-inning game;

Whereas Bob Feller is the first pitcher in modern Major League Baseball 
  history to win 20 or more games before the age of 21;

Whereas Bob Feller pitched the only opening day no-hitter in Major 
  League Baseball history;

Whereas, on April 16, 1940, at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Bob Feller 
  threw his first no-hitter and began the season for which he was 
  awarded Major League Baseball Player of the Year;

Whereas Bob Feller served with valor in the Navy for nearly 4 years, 
  missing almost 4 full baseball seasons;

Whereas Bob Feller was stationed mostly aboard the U.S.S. Alabama as a 
  gunnery specialist, where he kept his pitching arm in shape by 
  tossing a ball on the deck of that ship;

Whereas Bob Feller earned 8 battle stars and was discharged in late 
  1945, and was able to pitch 9 games at the end of that season, 
  compiling a record of 5 wins and 3 losses;

Whereas 60 years ago, amid great speculation that, after nearly 4 
  seasons away from baseball, his best pitching days were behind him, 
  Bob Feller had 1 of the most amazing seasons in baseball history;

Whereas, in the 1946 season, Bob Feller pitched 36 complete games in 42 
  starts;

Whereas, on April 30, 1946, in a game against the New York Yankees, Bob 
  Feller pitched his second career no-hitter;

Whereas, in 1946, Bob Feller pitched in relief 6 times, saving 4 games;

Whereas, in 1946, Bob Feller routinely threw between 125 and 140 
  pitches a game, a feat not often seen today;

Whereas, in 1946, Bob Feller pitched 371\1/3\ innings and had 348 
  strikeouts;

Whereas, in 1946, Bob Feller had an earned run average of 2.18;

Whereas, in 1946, a fastball thrown by Bob Feller was clocked at 109 
  mph;

Whereas Bob Feller was the winning pitcher in the 1946 All Star Game, 
  throwing 3 scoreless innings in a 12-0 victory by the American 
  League;

Whereas, in 1946, Bob Feller led the American League in wins, shutouts, 
  strikeouts, games pitched, and innings;

Whereas the baseball career of Bob Feller ended in 1956, but not before 
  pitching his third no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers on July 1, 
  1951, pitching 12 1-hit games, amassing 266 victories and 2,581 
  strikeouts, and leading the league in strikeouts 7 times;

Whereas Bob Feller was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962; 
  and

Whereas Bob Feller, a beloved baseball figure known as ``Bullet Bob'' 
  and ``Rapid Robert,'' placed service to his country ahead of playing 
  the game he loved and is a decorated war veteran: Now, therefore, be 
  it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That the Congress commemorates the 60th anniversary of the 1946 season 
of Bob Feller and his return from military service to the United 
States.
Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.